Over the course of some eighteen months or so of lockdown pianist Joe Webb explored the music of Art Tatum and in the process put together a show dedicated to performing the music of the legendary American pianist. In August, Newcastle's Lit & Phil hosted a first live show and now, some four months on, Bebop Spoken Here made the trip south from its Tyneside base to check out how things have been going.
The Bear Club in Mill Yard, tucked away off Guildford Street, is one of Luton's hidden gems. Since 2014 proprietor Justin John Doherty has worked tirelessly to develop the stripped-back-to-the-brick venue into a welcoming space for live jazz and other events. This evening the big attraction was the Joe Webb Trio playing a final engagement on the trio's self-styled 'Webb City' tour. Arriving early, your correspondent had the pick of the seats. And there was Joe, together with Dave Archer and Will Sach, tucking into a pre-gig meal. A quick 'hello', we'd catch up later in the evening.
It was to be two sets of Tatum, plus, and it couldn't be anything other than a bonus, some Oscar Peterson! Honeysuckle Rose to start. Wow! Just as it was at the Lit & Phil, this was the business! Sitting at the Bear Club's Yamaha piano, Webb made it look so easy, playing with a free-flowing technique to die for. Guitarist Dave Artist is as swinging as they come - Tiny Grimes, Herb Ellis - underpinned by a wonderful blues feel, bassist, New Yorker Will Sach, possesses an old school dry, woody sound, technique in spades yet admirably content to play the part (no chart!) as required. A class act, all three of them. Moonglow, an impossibly good take on I Got Rhythm, this alone was worth the trip south.
Herbie's Tune and Sunday from the Oscar Peterson album recorded live at Zardi's brought out the best in the Webb City Trio, that said, Webb, Archer and Sach are incapable of delivering anything other than their best. Winter Wonderland acknowledged a forthcoming occasion, whatever that might be, and, to close, a stupendous take on Flying Home. Joe Webb is one of the pianists of his generation and Luton's Bear Club is a fine venue in which to present his music. Check out: www.the-bear.club. Russell
Set list included: Honeysuckle Rose; Moonglow; I Got Rhythm; When I Wish Upon a Star; Herbie's Tune; I Ain't Got Nobody; Body and Soul; Anything Goes; Sunday; Deep Purple; Tea for Two; Tiny's Exercise; Two Sleepy People; (I Would Do) Anything for You; Winter Wonderland; Flying Home.
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